String puppet (marioneta) of the character Neptune with carved wood face, a pointed beard tipped with a painted shell, pink lips, a long nose, black plastic eyes, sharply defined brow, short forehead and prominent ears. Small shells cover the scalp. A thin wooden stick protrudes from the back of the head and is the only method of controlling the puppet. Puppet’s torso is paper mache. Arms and hands are wood. Torso and arms are covered by decoupage in patterns coloured blue and red, while hands are painted light blue. The creature’s bottom is made entirely of thin, white, flowing plastic sheeting. A long blue cape attaches at the shoulder and hip by a beaded cross-chest belt and falls the length of the plastic bottom. Puppet’s hands and face are delicately carved and detailed. The trident (part b) is aluminum, with a long staff and three pronged head. The whole is wrapped with brass wire, with clear beads threaded on intermittently. Each prong is topped by a gold triangle.

Necklace of cowrie shells with a gourd pendant. A double line of cowrie shells makes up the majority of the chain, strung on plastic fishing line. At the bottom are three pairs of shells interspersed with three strands of plastic beads in black red and white. A small brown gourd hangs below this, covered in a loosely woven covering of raffia, with a raffia tassel hanging below. The gourd is embellished with three evenly spaced decorations of a cowrie shell surrounded by a circle of beads.

Staff made of thick, stiff strands of dried grass, wrapped with raffia in an open weave to make up the handle. From the bottom protrudes a tuft of raffia, wrapped with a band of woven white fabric and grey plastic twine. Two circular patches of raffia are attached close to the base, topped with cowrie shells arranged in a flower motif. The top of the staff is covered in unbleached cotton, edged with two kinds of braided synthetic banding. Attached to the cotton are three small gourd rattles, also wrapped in open raffia weaving, each with a single cowrie shell and plastic bead decoration. Three lines of cowrie shells are glued to the cotton between the gourds.

Filá headdress. Gourd headpiece, with hanging raffia cover. The half gourd is decorated with lace around its rim and across to the top centre where it wraps around a protruding lip. On the body between the strips of lace are woven circles of raffia beneath flower shaped arrangements of cowrie shells and plastic beads. Out the top protrusion emerges a stiff tuft of raffia held together by a wrap of grey plastic twine. From the lower rim of the gourd hang thick, metre long strands of raffia, entirely encircling the headdress so that the fringe hangs down evenly over the wearer’s front and back.

Pearly queen costume hat. Black wool hat with a wide brim, edged top and bottom with white plastic buttons sewn on with black thread. An upright triangular panel at front holds different sized white buttons, surrounding one of gold and pink-grey abalone. The crown of the hat is covered with a mass of long white and black ostrich(?) feathers that trail slightly down the back. The interior of the hat is dark burgundy wool, undecorated.

Pearly queen costume skirt. Skirt is knee length, black, with side button closure at waist and kick pleating at hem. Skirt is heavily decorated with white plastic buttons, sewn on with black thread. The buttons are similar in size and patterned in horizontal lines of three rows interspersed with connected diamond shapes. The interior of the skirt has a black polyester lining.

Pearly queen costume skirt. Skirt is knee length, black, with rear waist zipper closure and single kick pleat at back. Skirt is heavily decorated with white buttons made primarily of plastic, sewn on with black thread. The buttons are similar in size and patterned in horizontal lines of three rows interspersed with connected diamond shapes. Inside the diamonds of every other row are large round abalone buttons. The waist band is decorated with interspersed abalone buttons and smaller round or square plastic buttons. The top back of the skirt is undecorated. The kick pleat is also patterned with buttons, and a single heart at bottom centre. The interior of the skirt has a black polyester lining.

Pearly queen costume jacket. Jacket is long sleeved, black, with a two button closure, wide collar and lapels and two waste pockets. Jacket is heavily decorated with white buttons made primarily of plastic, sewn on with black thread. The buttons on the front and arms of the garment are similar in size and patterned in horizontal lines of three rows interspersed with connected diamond shapes. The hem and pockets are covered in slightly larger buttons. A variety of six plastic pins are attached to the jacket front. The collar and lapel are densely covered in buttons of various sizes, some made of abalone shell. A silver medal hangs from the right lapel, stating “Member of Pearly Kings and Queens Assoc.”. On the shoulders are two small “s” shapes in brown and grey abalone buttons. The back of the jacket is less densely covered and states, in buttons, “Pearly Queen of Dulwich” between three crowns. The interior of the jacket is lined in black polyester.

Heavy wool pants that are part of a costume together with a coat (2956/203 b), a mask (2956/203 a), and six bells (2956/203 d-i). The pants are pink and dark blue patterned wool, embellished with rows of fringes in yellow, red and green. They open at the top front and close with two plastic buttons. The suspenders are sewn at the back and close in front with two plastic buttons.

A pair of heavy wool pants that is part of a costume along with a coat (2956/202 b), a mask (2956/202 a), and five bells (2956/202 d-h). The pants are of dark red and white patterned wool and are covered with yellow, red and green fringes. The knitted suspenders are sewn at the back and close in front with two plastic buttons.